An Ohio-based influencer has accused the arts and crafts retailer Michaels of discrimination after a store employee reportedly refused to custom-frame photographs of former President Donald Trump. Tore Maras, known online as 'Chaos Coordinator,' shared a video of the incident, which occurred on October 25 at a Michaels location in Mayfield, Ohio.
In the video, Maras presented three items for framing: a portrait of Trump seated in Winston Churchill's chair, a newspaper clipping of the 1969 moon landing, and a watercolor painting depicting presidents in prayer by artist Jon McNaughton. Maras stated she wanted to display these images in her home. She questioned the employee's refusal, asking if it was a matter of corporate policy or individual employee politics.
According to Blaze Media, Maras reported that the employee and her manager deemed the items "sensitive" or "inappropriate." Maras expressed her dismay in the video, asking, "So this lady decided she didn't want to service me because she didn't like the pictures I brought for framing?"
Michaels has since responded to the viral video, which garnered over 11,000 likes and 1,300 comments. A company spokesperson stated on social media, "Michaels does not have a policy prohibiting the framing of political items, and we strive to welcome every customer." The spokesperson added that the company had reached out to Maras directly to address her experience and ensure her project needs are met.
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Michaels confirmed they have "followed up with the customer to make this right and ensure her project needs are met." This incident echoes a similar claim from 2024, where another Michaels customer alleged an employee refused to frame a photograph of Trump. The customer at that time claimed the employee expressed discomfort with the image.